Hand County press. (Miller, Dakota [S.D.]) 1882-1893, 1887-12-08
SOLDERING IN DAKOTA.


which rolled along on the ground and Lit
up the camp as light as day, but no Indians
appeared In sight and We again laid down
again. II was for short time, however,
as every horse and mule in the command
We're scared about something, and plung-
ed around in their efforts to get loose.
This was ample evidence there we're In
dians IN the neighborhood, and every SOL
dier was on the alert, TO prevent stam-
pede. We finally got the horses quieted
and had no further trouble that night.
The next days journey of 81 miles was
anything but pleasure excursion We
were pretty we'll tuckered out and were
forced for the first time to make noon
halt and this..was on an alkali creek where
we could get no water. But the rest and
feed did both man and beast good, and
prepared us for trials to follow.
BATTLE OF TAHKASoKUTA.
| On the 28th we were in the saddle by
8 A. NJ. and after travelling about 20 miles
the column was halted by the scouts COM
ing back on the dead run. They reported
large Indian camp few miles ahead OF
us. After the Indian scouts had changed
their native costume for the regulation
Uniform, which is always done before
bottle tu prevent the soldiers confusing
friends and foes, we formed IN line OF
battle. We double. quicked cur horses
a few miles toward the Indians. halted,
each soldier No. 4 taking the horses and
falling to the rear, and prepared ourselves
for action. After advancing and maneu-
yering for short time we were met by
the reds and the frst gun was fired at i 80
p. N. After some desultory firing in front
rs usually practiced by the Indians to at
tract attention to one particular point, SO
they may mike a grand rush elsewhere,
the scene of the battle is suddenly re-
yersed. However the scouts and officers
seem to anticipate surprises and are con-
stahtly watching all quarters. The first
intimation the center and rear of the col
umn had of any change was three or four
cannoLs rushing back past us to the rear
| as f,s, as the horses could run. Turning
to the rear we see several hundred red
devils making for our wagon train, which
| is about mile back OF us. But fortunate
! liz their irsentions was discovered in time,
and the ready response OF the cannon
check their wild ride before any serious
damage results, and after few shells had
been fred into the horde they concluded
| they had no further uss Tor the wagons.
BY this time the prairie seemed alive with
Indians bent on our immediate destruc-
trion. They dodge about behind rocks
or whatever cover they can find. blaze
away at us and are out Of sight again. The
splendid discipline OF the soldiers and de-
structive canusnading would soon decide
| the battle il the Indians were concentrated
/ or massed as the soldiers, but this Is not
their wav of fighting. and while they have
a solid body to Shoot at, they present
very irregular line for a return ite. This
pecessitased maneuverng by the soldiers
10 secure the desired results from thsir
superior weapons. As we commenced
Lreparations for to- days battle We noticed
a couple Of miles to the front large butte
standing up or the prairie perhaps lou
feet high. As We drew nearer we saw it
was covered with Indians, squaws ami
those not engaged. watching the progress
| of the battle. When about one mile from
this butte a cannon was turned on II. The
first shell exploded before reaching the
outte, but the second one exploded on TOP
of il, and in a very short time the Indians
were scattered in all directions.
To the right and north Of our command
where the main engagement took place wal
a ridge running east and west, our lines
extending TO its edge. The Indians als'
being on the south side Of this ridge
actively engaged with the main forces, al
forded Major Bracket an opportunity Z
slip around the east end of the ndge witt
four companies and take position about
mile west of our position, but on the mort
side OF the ridge. This, Of course, was a
. unknown to us as well as the Indians, bu
/ We were soon enlightened. About
! o'clock We we're suddenly thrown into ex
: c;tement and wonder at the audacity Q
. about Is or 30 soldiers on their horses gal
{ loping along ON top Of the ridge. goin
westward, away:from our lines and to tn
I north Of the Indians. They we're appai
E emily rushing to their own doom. VIII!
/ no one seemed TO know. The Indians
9 course started to cut of their retreat, an
in doing SO we're rapidly concentrating
the foot Of the ridge. When the few so
Il di,rs are about mile from us and oppt
z site the Indians they suddenly drop OF
Q of sight over on the north side oil u
!. ridge. During all this time Major Bracl
y cts four companies we're lying ON Il
n north side OF the ridge, and when the ye'
o turesome horsemen dropped from vie
II they Joined the Majors command.
e dismount. cmwl up to the top Of the rid
10 raise in line, and the mystery is solve
tc As our command sends up cheers at q
,r success of this ruse, the Majors fore
" pour three rounds into the solid mass
Qs Indians who had been so intent upon ca
as ,nrinp the few bold soldiers on the ridg
al The slaughter OF the reds was terribl
ne but v were unable to tell the extent, b
III cause as soon a. one dropped from ]
ID pony another would slip his larist over
re dead or wounded Indian rs quick n
he Ash aud drag him of We had NJ
m gained decided advantage and with co
hs tinued diminishing We droye the India
!, back, until at sundown We had them u
be gorge in the mountains. The c'nno
- we're then brought forward and continu
!. throwing shells into tie gorge till ai'